County: Dublin Site name: Castlepark Road, Bullock, Dalkey
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 19E0806
Author: Paula Slaughter, Thaddeus Breen, Edel Barry & Marion Sutton, Shanarc Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Urban, post-medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 725989m, N 727539m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.283179, -6.110591
Test excavations were carried out from 18-20 December 2019 at Castlepark Road, Dalkey in relation to a proposed large Strategic Housing Development (Planning Ref. ABP-305255).
The proposed development site is 1.3ha in size, situated within the townland of Bullock, Dalkey. It is situated within the grounds of Castlepark School a protected structure (RPS: 1405), in the original attendant grounds of Castle Park.
A total of 12 test trenches were machine excavated across the footprint of the proposed development site. Trenches measured 8-26m in length, 1.4m in width and 0.15-1.4m in depth. Typical stratigraphy comprised dark brown organic topsoil with frequent roots, overlying natural yellowish-grey clay with areas of granite.
No features or finds of archaeological significance were identified during excavation. Testing has revealed that the site has been used extensively for dumping, both in the 19th century, during the occupation of Castle Park House, and in modern times, with evidence of spoil and rubble in the area of the site closest to the Castlepark School buildings likely associated with past development works on the school grounds.
19th-century material is represented by household rubbish, primarily ceramic sherds, typically dumped and found close to house or occupation sites. The presence of French drains, which also probably date from the era of Castle Park, is explained by the proneness of parts of the site, such as the lower-lying ground in the south-east part of the site and lower-lying ground in the north-west, near Castle Close, to flood or hold water. The drains reveal attempts to manage drainage in the woodland, possibly a direct management tool associated with maintaining the woodland.
Unit 39A, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
